C—3.

Table B. Number of companies : 137. Total amount of nominal capital: £1,452,826. Total amount of promoters' shares : £215,450 Total amount of contributing shares actually allotted : £985,676. Total amount of contributing share capital called up : £518,042.

SCHEDULE 11. Eetgrn showing Number of Dredging Claims granted for Year ending 31st March, 1900, as compared with other Classes of Claims, together with Gross Areas and Eentals payable during the First Year of the respective Terms.

Table A.—Dredging Claims.

Table B. —Claims not being Dredging Claims.

Mr. Warden Poynton to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir,-- 10th April, 1900. Be the different mining centres in my district, I have the honour to report as follows :— Wyndham. There is increased activity in this district, owing to the dredging industry. All applications for rights below the bridge at Mataura Township are made in the Wyndham Court. A number of claims and prospecting licenses for the bed of the Mataura Eiver have been granted. The prospects obtained are very good, and dredging on at least one claim will soon be in full operation. If found to be payable other dredges will be put on, and the whole river-bed to the sea will be taken up. Orepuki. There is nothing fresh to report in this district. The Shale Company's works are of great extent, and large sums of money have been expended in plant and necessary work. Up to the present there has been no output of oil, owing to the extensive preparations that are necessary, but the opinions of experts are highly favourable as to the prospects of the industry. If the venture proves a success it will be of great importance to the whole of Southland. Waiau and West Waiau. Dredging on the Waiau has not been the success that was anticipated. The suction-dredge erected on one of the claims is now being altered to a bucket-dredge. The shareholders are still confident of ultimate success. Nothing is being done on any of the other claims. West of the Waiau mining is still stagnant, no discoveries having been made during the last twelve months. The increased attention now given to dredging will divert prospecting from unexplored country like this, and be likely for some time at least to prevent fresh discoveries. Bound Hill. Hydraulic elevating is still in full operation in this district. Several new claims have been taken up, and, if water can be obtained in sufficient quantity, will, without doubt, pay well. In a

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Name of Places from which License issued. Number of Claims. Gross Aoreage. Gross Rental. A. B. P. £ s. d. Clyde | Eoxburgh J Cromwell Queenstown 104 51 19 34 5,549 2,258 1,181 1,898 2 19 3 24 0 0 0 0 681 5 0 282 0 0 148 7 6 238 10 0 Arrow .. Totals 208 10,887 2 3 1,350 2 6

Names of Places from which License issued. 'Number of Claims. Gross Acreage. Gross Rentals. Jlyde \ Jexandra [■ Roxburgh j jueenstown .rrow ... Iromwell 46 45 28 65 A. 543 B. P. 0 5 £ s. d. 78 7 6 587 399 418 0 0 0 0 0 28 73 7 6 49 12 6 37 3 6 Totals 184 1,947 0 33 238 11 0